Adjustable rod or pole



H. w. KLINGAMAN 3,506,135

ADJUSTABLE ROD OR POLE April 14, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed DeG. 2, 1968 /NVf/vrof?. Hmmm mA/z//vaA/m/v ,arma/m.

April 14, 1970 vH. w. KLINGAMAN 3,506,135

ADJUSTABLE ROD 0R POLE Filed Deo. 2, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WW M 3,506,135 ADJUSTABLE Ron oR POLE Harold W. Klingaman, Box 496, Primghar, Iowa 51245 Filed Dec. 2, 1968, Ser. No. 780,364 Int. Cl. A47h 1/08 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A longitudinally adjustable rod or pole utilizing telescopically related tubes with a cooperating ball and wedge locking means attached to one tube and acting against the other tube to hold the tubes against relative movement at selected length adjustments. When such a rod or pole is desired for use to support curtains, drapes, clothing, laundry or the like, the wedge locking means includes an associated spring arrangement whereby said locking means in one arrangement permits the rod to be frictionally supported by spring compression between two opposed parallel spaced surfaces and in another arrangement permits the rod to be frictionally secured by spring tension to the outer side edges of spaced parallel surfaces such as a window frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention relates to rod or pole units such as are used for supports in tents or the like or as curtain and drapery rods, clothes racks, pole lamps and related purposes and includes an improved locking means for selectively adjusting the overall length of such rod or pole. The locking means can be used with or without an associated spring. Without such spring, the overall length of the rod can be selectively fixed as for a tent pole, and with the spring attachment, the rod or pole for use as a curtain or drapery rod or clothes pole, for example, may be frictionally supported by compression spring pressure between two opposed parallel surfaces such as the inside edges of a window frame or opposed wall surfaces at each end of a bath tub, for example, and alternatively may be frictionally secured by tension spring pressure to the outside edges of two opposite sides of a window frame or the like.

Description of the prior art There are many types of longitudinally adjustable rods used for tent poles, curtain rods, clothes racks and the like that employ such features as pins, slots, wedges and springs in various arrangements and the present invention is distinguished :from such prior art devices by a novel arrangement of a cooperating ball and wedge locking means to provide a fixed longitudinal adjustment for a pair of telescopically related tubes. It is further distinguishable from the prior art in that with the use of an associated spring, this one locking means may be used for frictionally mounting this rod by compression or tension spring pressure between two opposed parallel surfaces such as the opposite inside edges of a window frame as exemplified in the style shown in Patent 988,200 or this rod may be mounted to the outside edges of opposed sides of a window frame as exemplied in the style shown in Patent 2,399,001 where spring tension is utilized to secure the rod to such frame.

SUMMARY The present invention utilizes a pair of telescopically related tubes deining an inner and outer tube each having an inner and outer end. Such tubes are illustrated herein as round in cross section but may also be rela- 'United States Patent O Patented Apr. 14, 1970 ICC tively flat as commonly found in certain types of curtain rod material. A locking element is cooperatively attached to the inner end of the inner tube within the outer tube so as to effect its locking action against such outer tube at selected points of longitudinal adjustment. Such locking element is an elongated body member corresponding in cross section generally to the shape of the tubes used and having a diameter somewhat less than that of the outer tube so as to be sldable therein and such body member may be used in either of two embodiments. In one form it is provided with an elongated notch intermediate respective end portions to form a single incline or wedge surface and in the other embodiment it is provided with an elongated notch defining two respective opposed inclined surfaces commencing at longitudinally spaced points on the periphery of the body member and extending downwardly toward each other to a common low point. In each embodiment, a sutiable slide means is disposed for movement relative to either the single wedge surface in one embodiment or both wedge surfaces in the other. A link means, movable relative to said body member is cooperatively attached to the ball to keep it aligned with the wedge surfaces and to prevent it from becoming detached from the body member.

Relative movement of the slide in relation to selected wedge surfaces is designed to provide a wedge locking engagement with the outer tube so that at such locking position, relative movement of the tubes is prevented. This arrangement is particularly useful in adjusting the length of tent poles, for example.

When this rod unit is used for a curtain rod, drapery rod or clothes rack, for example, it is designed so that it may be secured to opposed wall surfaces or a window frame without screws, nails or the like. For this purpose, one end of a coil spring is secured at or near the inner end portion of the inner tube within the outer tube and the other end of such spring is attached to one end of the locking member.

With the use of such spring, the locking member may be selectively utilized so that once a locking position has been established between said tubes, a further relative movement of said tubes is permitted only within the limitations of the spring which include selectively the lengthening of said rod unit by extension of the spring under tension or the shortening of the rod unit by retraction of the spring under compression.

These different objectives are accomplished either by reversing thev position of the single wedge surface locking member within the outer tube or when the locking member is provided with two wedge surfaces, by selectively engaging the ball with one or the other of said surfaces.

In the arrangement where the limited relative movement of the tubes is away from each other under spring tension, the initial normal overall length adjustment of the tubes will be for a somewhat lesser distance than that between the outer edges of a window frame, for example, so that the tubes can be extended under spring tension for engagement with such outer frame edges and in this arrangement, appropriate hook means are mounted on the respective outer ends of each tube. When the limited relative movement of the tubes is towards each other under spring compression, the initial longitudinal adjustment of the rod will be for an overall length slightly longer than the distance between opposed surfaces to which the rod is to be secured and thereby the force of the spring under compression will hold the ends of the tubes against such opposed surfaces such as opposite sides of a window frame, for example. In this arrangement, suitable rubber friction tips may be applied to the outer tip ends of each tube.

The objects of this invention together with details of the operation outlined and the advantages of the same will be more fully described and developed in relation to the more detailed description of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the locking member and its selectively associated spring for use in adjusting the length of a rod or pole,

FIG. 2 an enlarged elevational view, partly cut away, showing the device of FIG. l with the spring disposed in telescopically related tubes wherein such tubes are frictionally supported between opposing spaced parailel surfaces by compression spring pressure,

FIG. 3 is a View similar to FIG. 2 but showing this locking member without the spring for use with a tent pole or the like, and showing an end engaging means as seen FIG. 4,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the arrangement of the locking member of FIG. l so that said tubes, with appropriate hook members, can be frictionally secured to the outer edges of opposed spaced parallel surfaces by tension spring pressure,

FIG. 5 is a perspective View of a modified form of this locking member combining the capabilities of the form shown in FIG. l and its related uses shown in FIGS. 2 and 4,

FIG. 6 is a side view of the device in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a schematic View illustrating the device of FIG. 2 in reiation to a window frame, and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the arrangement of the device in FIG. 4 relative to a window frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, a pair of telescopically related tubes are designated by the numerals 10 and 12 with tube 10 being the smaller or inner tube for telescopic reception within the larger or outer tube 12 to provide in general a longitudinally adjustable rod or pole unit. This rod unit will be described in relation to different modes of use as, for example, in a simple adj-ustable xed locking arrangement to adjust the length of tubes 10 and 12 for use as a tent pole as illustrated in FIG. 3. and to alternative modes of use with curtain or clothes rods or the like where it is designed, to be mounted without requiring screws, nails and the like. In this latter regard, one form of use is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7, where this rod unit will be frictionally supported between two opposed surfaces represented by the Window frames 14 and 16 and for this purpose, the respective onter ends 10a and 12a of the tubes 10 and 12 are provided with the respective friction tip ends 18 and 20. In another form of use, this rod unit will be supported by frictional engagement with the outer edges of the window frames 14 and 16, for example, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 8 and for this purpose, the respective outer ends 10a and 12a of tubes 10 and 12 are provided with the suitable clips or hooks 22 and 24 and may include, if desired, the respective ornamental end ttings 26 and 28. It should be noted that while tubes 10 and 12 are shown as being round cross section, they may be relatively at tubes as are commonly used for curtain rods.

For the purpose of longitudinally adjusting the overall length of the tubes 10 and 12, I have devised a novel locking element for which one embodiment is designated generally by the numeral 30 as best seen in FIGS. 1-4 and a modified form is designated generally by the numeral 30' as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. 'With reference first to element 30, the same includes the elongated generally cylindrical body member 32 that is provided with an elongated notch deiining the inclined surface 34 as best seen in FIGS. 1-4. The high point 36 of surface 34 is disposed approximately centrally c-f body member 32 and the lower point 38 of surface 34 terminates in the end portion 40 of body 32 which serves as an abutment and stop member as will later appear.

A slide member 42 is disposed 0n surface 34 so as to be movable longitudinally thereon and such slide is secured to an elongated rigid link 44 which extends through and is longitudinally movabie in the elongated slot 46 in body member 32. Slide 42 is shown in the form of a ball which is suitable to the cross section of the tubes 10 and 12 as illustrated but such slide may be flat if the shape of the tubes require. The length of the slot 46 and link 44 is such that the abutment of one end of the link 44 with one end of the slot 46 will not permit the ball 42 to ride over the high point 36 on surface 34 and the abutment of the link 44 with the other end of slot 46 together with the abutment of the ball 42 with the stop 40 will limit the travel of the ball in the opposite direction to the low point 38 and the general arrangement of link 44 as described will serve to keep ball 42 in its relative position on inclined surface 34.

The respective outer ends of the body member 32 are adapted to be either directly secured to the inner end 10b of the inner tube 10 or to one end of a suitable spring member 48 with the other end of such spring secured to tube end 10b and for this purpose, the respective ends of member 32 are provided with any suitable securing means. The shape of spring 48, whether a coil as shown or otherwise, will be adapted to the cross sectional shape of the particular t-ubes used. As seen in FIG. 2, for example, the respective ends of body member 32 are provided with notched plug terminals 50 and 52 and in FIG. 4, the engaging means at the ends of member 32 are shown as integral eye members 54 and 56. Either of such engaging means or any others suitable for the purpose indicated may be employed with member 32.

The overall diameter of member 32 and including the diameter of spring 48 is such that these elements are freely slidable within the outer tube 12.

The locking element 30 thus far described is used with tubes 1!) and 12 either with or without spring 48. With out such spring, one end of body member 32 will be attached to the inner end 10b of tube 1t! and for this purpose I preferably use a suitable plug 58 suitably secured within end 10b as by the crimping of the tube at 60 as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. In this regard, it is pointed out that the inner tube 10 may, if desired, be of solid rod material. When spring 48 is used, one end there-of is secured to the end of plug 58 in any suitable manner such as the hook means 62 shown in FIG. 4 or the notched plug tip 64 shown in FIG. 2. The other end of the spring will be attached to one of the ends of body member 32 depending on its manner of use as will be fuy explained in the operation of this device,

With reference now to the modified form of this locking element 3G as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, like parts are given like numbers primed relative to the device so far described. In this arrangement, the low point 38 for the inclined surface 34 delines a common low point for a second inclined surface 66 which extends to a second high point 68 at end 49. It will thus be appreciated that surfaces 34 and 66 are longitudinally aligned with their respective direction of downwardly incline being opposite. The arrangement of ball 42' and link 44 is as previously described. By this arrangement, cooperation of ball 42' and surface 34 will serve the same purpose as ball 42 and surface 34 as shown in FIGS. 1-3, and cooperation of ball 42 with surface 66 wili serve the same purpose of ball 42 and surface 34 when oriented as shown in FIG. 4.

C'PERATION In the use or the locking member 30, the movement of ball 42 up the inclined surface 34 cooperates with such surface in forming a locking wedge since the elevation of ball 42 will move it into engagement with the inner surface of the outer tube. 12 and at the sarne time force the wedgelike end of Ibody member 32 into engagement with a diametrically opposite point on the inner surface of tube 12. In such a locking position and without spring 48, relative movement of tubes 10 and 12 is prevented and this affords a simple and eflicient means for adjusting the length of a tent pole or the like. If this rod unit is used as a curtain rod, for example, it may be mounted without screws or nails by the usel of spring 48 where the tubes 10 and 12 are permitted a limited relative movement to the extent afforded by either the expansion or compression of spring 48 as described.

To utilize the locking member 30 for the purpose of attaching this rod unit as a curtain rod or the like between opposing sides 14 and 16 of a window frame by compression spring pressure, reference is made to FIG. 2 where it will be noted that element 32 is attached to one end of spring 48 so that the low point 38 on surface 34 and end 40 are oriented toward the outer end of the outer tube 12 and the other end of spring 48 is secured to the inner end 10b of tube 10. To initially adjust the overall length of rods 10 and 12 for the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, it is recommended that this rod unit be held with tube 12 downwardly whereby, with a slight tap on tip 20, ball 42 will be urged into its solid line position of FIG. 2 where there is no wedging action. With ball 42 thus disengaged from any wedging action, tubes 10 and 12 can be manually moved to their desired overall length which should be slightly larger than the distance ibetween surfaces 14 and 16. Once this distance has been determined, a short abrupt outwardly pull on tube 20, preferably with this rod unit arranged so that the inner tube 10l is downwardly, will cause ball 42 to ride up surface 34 and effect the dotted line locking and wedging relationship in FIG. 2 for the mounting style seen in FIG. 7. When this has been established, it can be appreciated that rods 10 and 12 can bey telescope inwardly bycompression of spring 48 to an overall distance less than that between surfaces 14 and 16 whereupon the release of tips 18 and 20 against said surfaces will cause rods 10 and 12 to be frictionally supported against surfaces 14 and 16 by the compression pressure of spring 48.

With reference now to FIG. 4, the locking element 30 is arranged to provide a tension spring pressure and it will be understood that the hook members 22 and 24 will be suitably attached to the rods 10 and 12 as previously described. In this arrangement, one end of spring 48 is secured to tube end 10b as in FIG. 2 the locking member 30 is secured to the other end of spring 48 so that the low point 38 on surface 34 and end 40 are oriented toward spring 48 and tube end 10b or, in other words, oppositely arranged as disclosed in FIG. 2 so that the direction of incline of surface 34 is opposite to that shown in FIG. 2. To initially adjust the overall length of rods 10 and 12 in this arrangement, the rod unit is preferably held with rod 10 downwardly so that ball 42 will be assisted by gravity in moving to the solid line position of FIG. 4 whereupon the desired overall length or rods 10 and 12 can be selected so that the distance between hooks 22 and 24 is somewhat less than the distance between the outer edges of surfaces 14 and 16. When this adjustment has been determined, and preferably with this rod unit arranged with tube 12 downwardly, a slight abrupt inward push on rod 12 will move ball 42 to its dotted line locking position in FIG. 4 whereupon the relative movement of tubes 10 and 12 are limited to the expansion of spring 48 to allow hooks 22 and 24 to be moved into engagement with surfaces 14 and 16 as shown in FIG. 4. In this Position, the tension pressure on spring 48 will maintain this rod unit as shown in FIG. 8.

With the use of the locking element 30' shown in FIGS. and 6, the tension and compression modes of mounting this rod unit described herein can be accomplished without reversing the position of element 30 within tube 12. By manipulating tubes and 12 for ball 42 to cooperate with surface 34', the mounting style of FIGS. 2 and 7 may be used, and by causing the cooperation of ball 42 with surface 66, the mounting style of FIG. 4 may be accomplished. With either element 30 or 30', ball 42 or 42' is suitably held in position by link 44 or 44 and cannot become lost if tubes 10 and 12 are inadvertently separated.

From all of the foregoing, it is thought a full understanding of the construction and operation of this invention will be had and the advantages of the same will be appreciated.

I claim:

1. An adjustable rod or pole unit comprising:

-a pair of telescopically related tubes defining an inner and outer tube with each tube having respective inner and outer ends,

a locking means to hold said tubes against relative movement at selected points of longitudinal adjustment, said locking means including:

an elongated body member having a cross sectional area permitting the slidable movement of said body member 'within said outer tube,

one end of said body member secured to the inner end of said inner tube,

said body member being provided intermediate its ends with a longitudinally extending external inclined surface,

a slide on said inclined surface for movement relative thereto,

linkage means slidably carried by said body member and attached to said slide for guiding said slide on said inclined surface and to prevent its displacement therefrom, and

movement of said slide up said inclined surface causing said slide to coact therewith in effecting a wedge locking means with the inner surface of said outer tube.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the ends of said inclined surface define respective high and low points thereon and the means carried by said body member and attached to said slide including:

said body member being provided with an elongated transverse slot extending from a point near the high point on said inclined surface longitudinally of said body member in a direction away from the low point on said inclined surface, and

an elongated link member having one end cooperatively engaged in said slot for longitudinal movement therein and having its other end operatively attached to said slide to serve as a guide for said slide on said inclined surface and to prevent its displacement therefrom.

3. A device as defined in claims 1 or 2 including:

a spring intermediate said body member and the inner end of said inner tube, and

said spring being secured to the inner end of said inner tube and to one end of said body member so that the low point of said inclined surface is disposed toward the outer end of said outer tube whereby if the overall length of said tubes at which said wedge locking means is effective is slightly longer than the distance between two spaced parallel opposed surfaces, said tubes can be moved toward each other to compress said spring so that the outer ends of said tubes can be engaged with said opposed surfaces and held there by compression spring pressure.

4. A device as defined in claims 1 or 2 including:

a hook member near the outer end of each tube,

a spring intermediate said body member and the inner end of said inner tube, and

said spring being secured to the inner end of said inner tube and to one end of said body member so that the low point of said inclined surface is disposed toward the inner end of said inner tube whereby if the overall length of said tubes at which said wedge locking means is effective is slightly less than the distance between two parallel spaced edge surfaces, said tubes can be moved away from each other by expansion of said spring so that said hooks can respectively engage said spaced edges and be held there by tension spring pressure.

5. An adjustable rod lor pole comprising:

a. pair of telescopically related tubes deiining an inner and outer tube with each tube having respective inner and outer ends,

a locking means to hold said tubes against relative movement at selected points of longitudinal adjustment, said locking means including:

an elongated body member having a cross sectional area permitting the slidable movement of said body member within said outer tube,

one end of said body member secured to the inner end of said inner tube,

said body member being provided intermediate its ends with a longitudinally extending elongated notch on its external surface defining opposed inclined surfaces commencing at respective longitudinally spaced high points on the periphery of said body member and extending downwardly towards each other to a common low point in said body member,

a slide normally disposed at said low point and movable relative to either of said inclined surfaces,

linkage means slidably carried by said body member and attached to said slide for guiding said slide on said inclined surfaces and to prevent its displacement therefrom, and

movement of said slide up either of said inclined surfaces causing said slide to coact therewith in effecting a wedge locking means with the inner surface of said outer tube.

6. A device as defined in claim including:

a spring intermediate said body member and the inner end of said inner tube, and

said spring being secured to the inner end of said inner tube and to one end of said body member so that with said slide coacting with the inclined surface closest to the inner end of said inner tube and with the overall length of said tubes at which said wedge locking means is effective being slightly longer than the distance between two spaced parallel opposed surfaces, said tubes can be moved toward each other to compress said spring so that the outer ends of said tubes can be engaged with said opposed surfaces and held there by compression spring pressure.

7. A device as dened in claim 5 including:

a hook member near the outer end of each tube,

a spring intermediate said body member and the inner end of said inner tube, and

said spring being secured to the inner end of said inner tube and to one end of said body member so that with said slide coacting with the inclined surface closest to the outer end of said outer tube and with the overall length of Said tubes at which said wedge locking means is eiective being slightly less than the distance between two parallel spaced edge surfaces, said tubes can be moved away from each other by expansion of said spring so that said hooks can respectively engage said spaced edges and be held there by tension spring pressure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 988,200 3/1911 Logsdon 211-105.6 1,139,595 5/1915 Starr. 2,399,001 4/1946 Chilton 211-l05.6 2,702,197 2/1955 Sabatino. 2,993,708 7/ 1961 Holman. 3,008,742 ll/1961 Goldstein.

FOREIGN PATENTS 834,735 8/ 1928 France.

ROY D, FRAZIER, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

